Liam Payne Blames Media Speculation For Family Damage

Liam Payne’s family members said in a statement that the media coverage of the singer’s death has caused them “indescribable, lasting damage,” especially Payne’s 7-year-old son.

“The constant media attention and speculation which has accompanied the process has exacted indescribable, lasting damage on the family, particularly on Liam’s son who is trying to process emotions which no seven-year-old should have to experience,” part of the statement reads. “The family has always wished for privacy to grieve and asks that they be given the space and time to do so.”

Payne, who was 31 years old, was found dead in October in Buenos Aires after falling from the third-floor balcony of a hotel. A toxicology report found that the former One Direction member had multiple substances in his system at the time of his death, including cocaine, crack cocaine and benzodiazepine, a prescribed class of sedatives sold under the brand names Valium, Xanax and Klonopin, among others.

It’s unclear if Payne’s family was singling out any particular media attention in their statement, but TMZ received criticism for publishing cropped photos of Payne’s dead body. TMZ removed the photos but never publicly acknowledged its actions.

Payne’s family called the singer’s death an “unspeakable tragedy.”

“This is a time of tremendous grief and pain for those who knew and loved him,” the statement reads. “Liam ought to have had a long life ahead of him. Instead, Bear has lost his father, Geoff and Karen have lost their son, Ruth and Nicola have lost their brother and all of Liam’s friends and fans have lost someone they held very dear.”

They added that the investigation into his death was “absolutely necessary” and said they have accepted the Court of Appeals’ decision to drop the charges against two staff members at the hotel where Payne died and Payne’s friend. However, two people who allegedly supplied drugs to Payne remained charged.

Over the weekend, Payne was honored at the Brit Awards.

“This weekend, at the Brit Awards, Liam was remembered for his phenomenal contribution to British music and for his wider, positive impact on millions of adoring fans the world over,” Payne’s family’s statement reads. “We joined in that celebration of his life and will forever remember the joy that his music brought to the world.

“Liam, you are so loved and missed.”